Ibuprofen: The Miracle Drug

I recently had to complete a research paper for my Chemistry class on any molecule of my choice. I decided to do it on Ibuprofen because it is a drug I was familiar with and knew that it had many different uses. I did not expect to learn a lot from this paper, but I learned that Ibuprofen is essentially a miracle drug and what that should be made available to people who cannot afford it. Ibuprofen is a drug that is seen in Advil, Motrin, and many other common household names. Fever? Take Ibuprofen. Headache? Take Ibuprofen. Toothache? Take Ibuprofen. Back pain? Take Ibuprofen. Arthritis? Take Ibuprofen. And the list goes on and on. Bottom line: Ibuprofen helps so many different problems.

Ibuprofen is able to treat a whole long list of minor aches and pains. Its anti-inflammatory nature allows it to be used in so many different situations. With so few side effects, it is a much safer alternative than many other drugs. Additionally, it has fewer side effects than aspirin. It does not affect the hormone balance of the body and thus is used extensively instead of many other drugs. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg of why I think Ibuprofen is a miracle drug. Recent studies have shown that taking small doses of Ibuprofen over long periods of time has shown the ability to help prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Additionally, there are scientists who think that Ibuprofen can also help prevent cancer. While these studies are not 100% conclusive it is really interesting to learn that a drug like Advil might possibly have all of these amazing capabilities. They say that an “apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but maybe they should be saying that “two Ibuprofen a day keeps the doctor away”.

It is important to note that like all things, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Prolonged excessive use of Ibuprofen can cause damage and taking more than the recommended dosage can cause damage as well. However, the continued study of Ibuprofen shows the wonderful medical advances that science has given us. I hope more resources are put into testing Ibuprofen because the more we learn about it, the more incredible it seems to become. Finally, I would not be able to blog about Ibuprofen without mentioning its incredible effectiveness at curing hangovers. If someone has to difficult of a night, it is just the thing to help them get motivated the next day. Indeed, check out this article where one of the lead scientists who discovered Ibuprofen in the 1960s actually used it to cure a hangover while working on developing the drug.

Movember: The Month of Men’s Health

Recently, I blogged about Matt Lauer and Al Roker getting Prostate Exams on television in order to promote men’s health during the month of Movember. November is the month where many men grow out their beards (something I finally am able to do after 20 years of failed attempts) to help promote awareness abut men’s health. Unfortunately, due to my attempts to find full employment, I have not been able to partake in this tradition. While this is viewed as a positive by the women in my life (my mom and grandma), it has led me to seek other ways to promote men’s health, something I feel can be easily overlooked.

Luckily, I have this blog where I can speak about these important issues.  This past weekend in New York City, the Stache Dash occurred at the Chelsea Brewing Company in Chelsea Piers. I am honored to say my sister and cousin ran to promote the health of my father, uncle, and all the men in our family. Events like this do a great job of promoting men’s health. A 5K is run followed by a complimentary beer with a donation to a Movember fund. All participants are given a free fake mustache which is important because unfortunately (fortunately?) my sister cannot grow a decent mustache. While November is winding down, there is still a lot that you can do to get involved and support the cause.

1. Get involved. Check out the Movember website. There are places ways to donate your time and money. Every little bit helps. This website also does a good job of talking about just what exactly Movember hopes to accomplish.
2. Talk to someone in your family about these issues. I plan on spending Thanksgiving having a talk with my father about men’s health. I just urge you to be careful the timing of this conversation. Thanksgiving dinner is not the best time and place for a conversation about testicular or prostate cancer, but these are important issues that should not be ignored. Starting a conversation early can save someone’s life!

3. Participate in an event. You do not have to be a man to sponsor men’s health. If something is going on near your homes in the next week, take a few hours and help promote awareness.

Many times, certain diseases that affect men, such as prostate cancer, can be treated effectively if they are detected early enough. It is important to continue to promote awareness and make sure men’s health is not something that gets overlooked. Get out there and spread the word, and if you can, grow a mustache!

Batkid Saves the Day

Sometimes, it can seem like there is so much bad in the world today. People stop turning on the news because they’re tired of hearing all of the negative that is going on in the world. But sometimes a story comes along that restores your faith in humanity and makes you grateful that their are certain people in this world. I decided to write this post about my new personal hero, Batkid, so that more people will learn about this heartwarming story and hopefully be inspired to help others more.

On November 15th, the city of San Francisco was saved thanks to the heroic efforts of Batkid, otherwise known as Miles Scott a 5-year old boy who has suffered from leukemia since the time he was 18 months old. Thanks to the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Miles was given the opportunity to complete his dream, being Batkid for a day. Thousands of people from San Francisco (made into Gotham City for the day) showed up to support Miles. His busy day as a superhero included saving a damsel in distress and foiling a bank robbery. The city cheered on Miles as he went about saving the city from all its troubles. His day ended with him receiving a key to the city from the Mayor of San Francisco and a thank you from the President of the United States. Quite an impressive day for such a young child. ABC News has pictures from the event that can explain it much better than I can. The look on Miles’ face (or at least the half that is visible under his mask) says it all. It was a day that Miles will never forget. His leukemia has been in remission since June so hopefully he can stay on the right path.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a nonprofit organization that specializes in granting the wishes of children that have been diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in the United States. They believe that giving a child their wish experience, they are helping to inspire them as they attempt to fight the diseases that torment their childhoods. The story of Miles has garnered national attention but the Make-A-Wish foundation grants a child a wish every 38 minutes. It is the type of organization that can change the lives of those who need it the most.

Stories like this show how great people can be when given the proper motivation. The response from the people of San Francisco was amazing. It is truly inspiring to see this entire event and the people cheer on Miles as he saved his city. Hopefully people will be inspired themselves to help others and want to make a difference. Remember if you are ever in need, just make a call to Batkid!!

Matt Lauer and Al Roker Promote Protate Health

Last Thursday on the Today show, anchors Matt Lauer and Al Roker underwent prostate exams in order to help raise awareness of prostate cancer during men’s health month. Similar to Katie Couric undergoing a colonoscopy exam on live television in 2000, the two men hoped that they could inspire more men to take notice of the dangers of prostate cancer and the importance of testing and detecting the disease early. The exams were performed by Dr. David Samadi and took less than 40 seconds for each man. This small amount of time has the potential to make a real difference in men’s health. Throughout the month of November, Lauer, Roker, and others from the Today show are participating in No-Shave November which is an effort to raise awareness for men’s health, especially for diseases like prostate and testicular cancer. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I am (attempting) to interview for jobs, I cannot participate in No-Shave November this year, but hope to do so in the years to come. Their on air exams were part of this attempt. Hopefully, they will be as successful as Couric was back in 2000.

According to health authorities, about 1 in 6 men will be diagnoses with prostate cancer in their lifetimes, with extra risk to men above the age of 65 and African American. It is incredibly important to catch prostate cancer early because the earlier it is found, the better chance for survival. Men should immediately consult a doctor if they experience any of these symptoms given by the Mayo Clinic. I know from a personal standpoint, what Lauer and Roker did has inspired me to focus more on men’s health. I want my dad to follow their advice and be safe rather than sorry. There is still debate among the medical community about whether or not screening is the best decision, but it is important to consult your doctor and figure out what is best. Hopefully, more celebrities will follow the example of Lauer and Roker and help spread awareness so that the word will continue to spread.

More information about the actions of Lauer and Roker can be found here.

More information about prostate cancer can be found here.

Major League Baseball Stands Up To Cancer

The World Series recently concluded for Major League Baseball with the Red Sox beating the Cardinals in six games. I am writing this post because I want to thank Major league Baseball for their support of the Stand Up to Cancer campaign. Game 4 was dedicated to helping support the fight against cancer and the Stand up to Cancer campaign (SU2C). The entire sellout crowd and both teams stood up holding signs saying “I Stand Up for” with names of loved ones affected by cancer written underneath. It was an incredibly powerful couple minutes of silence as everyone stood up to support the fight. To see how everyone in the stadium was affected by this disease on a personal level was very strong. It made me think of who I would write on that card and how much they meant to me. The group of people I was watching the game with all became quiet when this was going on which showed how much we were all impacted by this event.

It is nice to see professional sports, which are an important and popular part of the culture of our country, helping join in this important fight.  Similar to how NFL players where pink apparel during games in October to help raise awareness of breast cancer, the MLB has been able to spread the word about SU2C. The MLB is a founding donor of SU2C and has contributed millions of dollars to the organization since it was created. The idea of standing up to cancer is one that hopefully people will follow. The organization, especially with the financial resources provided by the MLB and other groups, has been able to help change our understanding of cancer and hopefully help find a way to combat this horrible disease.

I also want to point out that the Red Sox were down 2-1 in the series and were tied in this game when they came up in the sixth inning after this moment. In that inning Jonny Gomes hit a three run homer which changed the tide of the whole series. After the game he talked about how powerful that moment was for him and how it help him hit that homerun. If you are interested in hearing more about what the MLB did, check out this article. Also, here is the official SU2C website.

Technical Difficulties or Serious Issues?

I recently came across an article in the Wall Street Journal which discussed the recent issues with the technical issues that have been prominent in the federally run insurance exchanges. By redesigning parts of the website and making other changes (including adding capacity to the website and making some software fixes) they hope to set the website on the right path. However, these technical issues have created a firestorm of response from both sides of the aisle that has helped to reignite the debate over the ACA after the government reopened.

Republicans have made it clear that they believe that the fact that there are issues this early in the process is a sign that there will be more problems in the future. While it is unsurprising that Republicans would jump on every chance to try and end the ACA, it is also unsurprising that Democrats have responded aggressively as well in the other direction. They have made it a point to stress that the problems are only technical glitches and would be fixed quickly. They think that a quick “tech surge” would solve the process. The responses from our politicians have made me question whether or not problems this early are only technical difficulties or serious issues.

It was interesting to see how quickly both political parties come out with the same talking points every time there is a new development with the ACA. As the article pointed out, top people from both parties immediately went out and spoke on all the important talk shows. Whether or not this will have any impact will be interesting to see. I also want to see how the public will continue to react to these technical issues and if the problems will continue. I think it is a great story to follow.

Shock and Awe of Captain Phillips

This past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing the movie, Captain Phillips. The movie stared Tom Hanks as the title character. The movie chronicled the 2009 hijacking of an American cargo ship by Somalian pirates. For anyone looking to see an exciting movie starring one of the best American actors, I would definitely recommend this movie. However, since this blog is about healthcare and not movie reviews, I want to focus specifically on the performance of Hanks as he dealt with this traumatic event in the final scene of the movie. I should probably mention that the rest of this post needs a SPOILER ALERT for anyone who has not seen the movie and does not know how the real situation played out in 2009.

After Phillips is rescued, he is taken into the infirmary of the US naval ship. A scene that was originally not supposed to be in the movie (interesting read), ended up being the most powerful part of the entire movie. Captain Phillips had just dealt with his ship being attacked by pirates. He was trying to save his crew and ended up being held hostage by pirates for days. He suffered malnutrition and beatings, all with the constant fear that he would never see his family again. He remained strong throughout the entire ordeal but finally let his guard down when he was rescued. It was there that he began to go into shock, failing to answer simple questions (What’s your name? Are you hurt?) and struggling to breathe. It was at this moment that Hanks’ amazing ability was on display. It was impossible not to feel for him as he suffered through this ordeal. The ragged breathing, mumbled answers, and tears in his eyes were very powerful.

Captain  Phillips was suffering from shock. He had trouble fully comprehending what was going on which was not surprising given what he had to go through over the previous few days. The purpose of this post is to point out not only Hanks’ performance, but how the doctors responded to him. As the article above also shows, the doctors were not actors but normal medical doctors in the navy. How they responded is the way we should respond if someone is going into shock and there are no doctors around. Helping the person relax and focus on breathing are essential to make sure the person does not do more harm to themselves since their brain and body are not responding properly. More information on shock can be found here. Overall, I was in awe of the acting ability of Tom Hanks as he so vividly played someone going into shock and hope that more people see this Captain Phillips for the final scene alone.

Commercials for Repealing the Affordable Care Act

Recently in my Pop Culture and Health Policy class, we were introduced to a few commercials that were being aired in order to garner support for a push to repeal the Affordable Care Act. With the current government shutdown in which the ACA played a major role, I thought it would be a good idea to examine these commercials more closely. I want to focus on three in particular that will highlight what I think is the most important aspects of these commercials. Here are the three videos:

Creepy Video # 1

Creepy Video # 2

Regular Video

The first two videos feature young adults visiting the doctor because they are excited about using the ACA and want to make the most of it. The patients start out happy that they opted for Obamacare until their exams start to get strange. As you can see from the first two videos, the doctors are replaced by a “Creepy” Uncle Sam who is going to “play” doctor. Both commercials made me extremely uncomfortable, not to mention embarrassed that I was actually witnessing a commercial like this. Due to the fact that both the man in the first video and the woman in the second both faced the Creepy Uncle Sam with their pants literally off, the message was quite obvious. The third video presents an entirely different story. Statistics are shown that point out what many perceive to be the failures of the ACA. There is music playing in the background that makes the viewer feel weary. Instead of the first two videos which I found to be repulsive, I happened to like the third commercial. While statistics can be adjusted to better support your argument, the information presented pointed out real issues with the ACA.

While the ACA is far from perfect and I am unsure if it will be successful, I question why so many people are determined for it to fail. I do not think it is the best method for improving health care in the US, but something must be done because the system is failing. In choosing to do nothing, you are just letting the system fail. These commercials show the fears people have with Obamacare, but the first two are just ridiculous. They are scare tactics which probably turn more people off than convince them that their viewpoint is correct. I actually feel bad for the people who came up with that idea. The third commercial is the only one of the three that I can respect. It is clear that opponents of Obamacare have to convince young people that are healthy and might not want insurance to opt out of the program if they are to be successful in repealing it. While I am weary of a system that forces you to buy insurance whether you want it or not, I question the lengths at which certain people are going to get rid of it. Things like the first two commercials above and shutting down the government leave much to be desired. I just hope in the future that they try to find better methods to achieve their goals and that more people speak up about how ridiculous these tactics are.

Finally, check out this article from TIME which talks about a lot of my post. CLICK HERE

Breaking Bad: The Psychological Effects of Cancer

Breaking Bad concluded its five season run last night. While the show has won many awards and been given lots of attention recently, one thing that people tend to overlook is why the main protagonist (antagonist by the end of the show), Walter White, acted in the way he did. For those that do not know, the show follows the actions of Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston. He begins the show as a high school chemistry teacher when he finds out that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer. In order to provide for his family after his presumed death, he decides to cook crystal meth. The show follows as he turns from a nerdy teacher to a meth kingpin. You might be wondering what does this have to do with health care or health in general. But the reality is, it has everything to do with health care.

Walt felt he was a failure in life. The company he helped create was worth billions of dollars, but he was bought out of it before it was worth anything. As a result, he ended up as a highly overqualified chemistry teacher. This brilliant man was now stuck in a life he could not get out of. His cancer changed everything. He became powerful and was addicted to that  power. While he constantly tried to explain to his wife he was doing it for his family, the reality was he was doing it for himself. The man that he was no longer existed. While his body was getting ravaged by cancer, the effects on his mind were worse. The cancer killed who he used to be. In the end, when Walter White was diagnosed with cancer, he was not dying, he was finally living.

Being faced with death puts a new perspective on life. Breaking Bad did an excellent job  in showing the life of a man and how much he changed when faced with his own demise. While it is extreme what Walt ended up doing, it is interesting to see the psychological effects of cancer rather than just the physical effects. Cancer is a tramautic experience that affects victims and their families with more than just certain physical ailments. I hope that in the future more funding and more research go towards combating the emotional effects on cancer. While there are support groups and the like, they are not always given as much attention and publicity. According to the US National Library of Medicine, cancer patients have a higher rate of PTSD than the community (link below). This is an area that should be worked on so that people can truly heal from suffering from a terrible disease. Breaking Bad will forever be remembered as the story of Walter White. Hopefully it can also be used as a platform to analyze how to combat a disease that not only affects the body, but the mind as well.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8742542